ENG-1972 — Page 118

HEALTH

75

government-subvented agency. In addition to this centre for male patients, the society also runs a female treatment centre accommodating thirty patients. (A description of the three treatment centres operated by the Prisons Department for drug dependant prisoners is contained in the Chapter on Public Order.)

Since the formation of the Action Committee Against Narcotics in 1965, co- ordination of the work done by both government and voluntary agencies in the drive against narcotics has been much improved at the operational level. By 1972 there were 10 government agencies and nine voluntary organisations represented on the committee with Sir Albert Rodrigues as Chairman. In June this year, the government appointed its first Commissioner for Narcotics. This move shows clearly that the government is determined to tackle with the utmost vigour the serious criminal and social problems connected with dangerous drugs. The Commissioner is responsible to the Secretary for Home Affairs, and in general terms, his role is to co-ordinate the activities of all the government departments and the various voluntary agencies in- volved in the fight against the illicit drug traffic in all its forms; including the rehabilita- tion of drug addicts.

In April this year, a Central Registry containing basic information on drug addicts was established. The main sources of information are government and voluntary agencies who in the course of their work come into contact with drug addicts. With this information it is hoped to learn more about the average success rate for treatment in institutions, estimate the total number of drug addicts in Hong Kong and compare the success rate of organised treatment with that of other forms.

Legislation has also been introduced to amend the Drug Addicts Treatment and Rehabilitation Ordinance to raise the age of competency of a young patient from 16 to 19 years and to extend the period of treatment for young patients from six months to a maximum of 12 months, during which time vocational training will be given.

Hospitals

There are now 16,733 hospital beds available in Hong Kong, representing 4.1 beds

per thousand of the population (see Appendix 24). This figure includes maternity and nursing homes, but not institutions maintained by the Armed Forces. Of these beds, 14,658 are in government hospitals and institutions or in government-assisted hospitals, while the remaining 2,075 are provided by private agencies. Apart from beds assigned to the mentally ill and for the treatment of tuberculosis and infectious diseases there are 13,319 beds available for all general purposes, including maternity, giving a ratio of 3.3 beds per thousand of the population. The figures quoted are based on the normal bed capacities of the hospitals, but in some cases the actual occupancy is much higher, as temporary beds are used whenever the need arises.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital serves as the main emergency and specialist hospital for Kowloon and the New Territories, with all necessary ancillary and specialist services. It has a capacity of 1,596 beds, but the pressure for admission necessitates the extensive use of temporary beds bringing the total number of functional beds in the hospital to 1,904. The Kowloon Hospital is used mainly as a subsidiary to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for patients requiring convalescent care and rehabilitation.